As I drifted in my thoughts, Margaret's hands found mine, her voice softly calling my name, "Daniel?" She whispered, attempting to draw my attention.

My eyes met hers, and I forced myself to refocus, trying to keep the harshness out of my voice. Still, my tone lowered, "Margaret, I need to know what you're prepared for. Obviously, we both know the situation with my mate." I could barely say the word without a grimace of pain. "You haven't found your mate yet. I understand if you want to cool things off between us because I need to start thinking long-term."

Her forehead creased in confusion. "What do you mean by 'thinking long-term'?"

"It means I'm going to be Alpha one day, and I need a suitable Luna," I explained.

Margaret bristled, standing up tall, her hands on her hips. Her voice rose in agitation. "And what makes you think I'm not a suitable candidate?"

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. "You're not suitable because you still have a mate out there you haven't found yet."

Realization dawned on her face, and she returned to her seat, a smile radiating from her. "Daniel, I love you! I'm never going to want anyone more than I want you, regardless of whether or not they are my mate."

I held back a scoff. Margaret had no idea what the mate bond felt like, the impossible pull it was to ignore. But it would be easier for her to deny her mate if I marked her first. We’d been together for two years. I could make this work. I told myself, repeatedly.

I sighed...

...maybe eventually I would believe it.

And once I marked Margaret, I desperately hoped my addiction to Elizabeth would diminish. It should, the bond should wither and fade once I claimed another, but it wouldn’t entirely disappear until Elizabeth did as well.

The thought of that, her lips on another Wolf’s neck, biting into his flesh, made my Wolf roar savagely inside of me.

I growled, pushing him back harshly, reminding him we couldn’t beat the Alpha, so we had no other choice. It was either deny ourselves or forfeit her life. The decision was as simple as that, no gray area, only black and white.

He whimpered again, pacing and restless in my head.

I slowly inhaled and exhaled. I could make this work. Margaret and I had been together for nearly two years. I just had to stop thinking. Being with her was like breathing.

Planting her hand against my chest, she bit her lip and looked up at me seductively through her lashes. It was a look I’d seen hundreds of times. And every time, my groin tightened, eliciting a throbbing awareness of exactly where I wanted to bury myself.

Except for now.

Now there was only one shewolf I wanted to lose myself in. Only one shewolf I thirsted to sink my canines into.

Elizabeth.

Margaret’s hand ran down my stomach until she reached my pants. She palmed my less-than-hard manhood and looked up at me in confusion. “Don’t you want me, baby?”

I wanted to scream no from the rooftops. I didn’t want her. But I was going to take her. I was going to fuck her senseless if that’s what it took to get my mind off of Elizabeth and back in the game.

A part of me felt guilty. With each new word that came from Margaret’s mouth, I saw more and more how shallow she was, but even she didn’t deserve a wolf fantasizing about another female while fucking her.

But it couldn’t be helped, not right now. I was afraid my fantasies were the only thing that would get me through until we completed the mate bond. After that, I should be able to make love to Margaret as I’d done so many times before.

A part of me wondered if she was using me, too. We’d never discussed her being my Luna before because we both understood we had other mates in the future. I was surprised she’d so quickly tossed him away. Was she more interested in becoming a Luna than finding the man the Moon had destined for her?

I couldn’t contemplate it further, because she slid to the floor on her knees, and pushed my legs apart so she could wriggle between them. She undid my belt and pants, revealing me.

I watched as her lips slowly wrapped around me. My head fell back. My eyes fluttered shut.

But now, in my mind, I could only see another mouth wrapped around me—Elizabeth. Her succulent lips, soft and wet and moist. I shuddered hard at the image.

Margaret drew in a sharp breath, thinking my reaction was to her. And in part it was. She knew everything I liked, and she was checking all the boxes.

My hands tangled in her hair. I held her head still and took over the motion, thrusting my hips, pushing myself even deeper.

I kept my eyes closed. I didn’t want to break the illusion—Elizabeth, kneeling, moss green eyes looking up at me while she eagerly accepted everything I had to give her.

Irrepressible need, to finish what she’d started, wound through my belly. I thrust harder and heard Margaret gag slightly, but I couldn’t stop. The fantasy in my head had taken over. I shoved myself deeper down her throat. Again and again.

Even in her discomfort, Margaret purred, sending shooting vibrations along my shaft.

Suddenly, I was there.

Contract and release, pleasure washing over me. I held still for a moment as Margaret swallowed and then pulled out.

Margaret smiled up at me and licked my remaining release from her lips. Her expression was naughty. “What do you want to do to me now?”

It was at that exact moment that I remembered the time and shot to my feet in a panic. Margaret stared up at me in confusion. I reached a hand down and pulled her up to her feet, muttering, “I want to, but we need to go. I told Skyler we’d be there in ten minutes.”

Her lips turned down into a frown.

I looked at my watch. Fuck. It was even later than I realized. My anxiety level rose. Elizabeth arrived at 10:00 am to clean the suites around mine. I always made it a point to be gone before 9:00 am, making sure I never crossed her path.

It was already 9:30 am.

I zipped my pants, grabbed Margaret’s hand and tugged her out the door.

Only to come face to face with Elizabeth!

My stomach hit the floor.

She was early. She wasn’t supposed to be there until 10:00 am.

I was so surprised to see her that I forgot to breathe through my mouth, and her seductive, alluring scent slammed into me full force, almost knocking me off my feet.

What the hell was I supposed to do?